Spring mounting



y 7 1941- I E. B. THIGFEN 2,243,780

SPRING MOUNTING Filed Jan. 2, 1940 Patented May 27, 1941 2,243,780 SPRING MOUNTING Emmett B. Thigpen, Macon, Ga.

ApplicationJanuary 2, 1940, Serial No. 312,145

4 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to a springmounting, and it is a particular object of the invention to provide means whereby a main spring or kindred spring may be operatively engaged with its arbor in a manner to relieve the spring of strain or tension on either sudden or slow expansion and whereby liability of breakage of the spring is materially reduced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting tor a main spring or the like whereby the inner end portion of the spring has a slip anchorage with the arbor for the spring which adds resiliently to the spring and reduces breakage.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved spring mounting whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating a spring mounting constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating a spring mounting constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating an additional embodiment of the invention.

The invention as herein comprised is partly in continuation of my allowed application Serial No. 200,981 which has eventuated in Patent #2,188,824 under date of January 30, 1940, relatin to a toy top spinning device and wherein is disclosed but not claimed the same general features of spring anchorage as embodied in the present application.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing, I denotes a winding arbor for the spiral or main spring S which has its outer extremity operatively engaged with the driving member 2 which may be used for any work desired.

The periphery of the arbor I is disposed substantially axially through the spring S and has its periphery corrugated, as at 3, and freely contasting with this corrugated periphery is the central portion of an arcuate member 4 disposed on a predetermined radius and which, as herein disclosed, is considerably less than a semi-circle in form. This member 4 is formed of the same material as the spring S and is of the same width.

The inner extremity of the spring S is disposed inwardly, as at 6, on what may be termed an abrupt curvature with the portions of the adjacent central turns of the spring S contacting with the ends of the member 4 which are straight and perpendicularly disposed with respect to the transverse center of the member. The curved inner extremity 6 extends within the inbow portion of the member and, as illustrated in the drawing, the outbow face of the member is in direct contact with the corrugated portion of the arbor.

Through the medium of the member 4 the inner extremity of the spring S is effectively held or anchored to the arbor I but in a manner whereby under abnormal conditions the member 4 will have slippage around the arbor. This particular means of anchoring the inner end of the spring to the arbor is of decided advantage as in practice it has been found that such an anchorage results in increased resiliency of the spring and at the same time liability of breakage of the spring is materially reduced.

It is also to be pointed out thatthis member 4 provides an expansion joint which materially relieves the strain or tension on either sudden or slow expansion of the spring S.

In Figure 3 of the drawing is illustrated an embodiment of the invention which is substantially the same as comprised in Figures 1 and 2 except that the arcuate member I has its central portion anchored, as at 8, to the arbor 9 through the medium of a screw or other fastening means.

In the form of invention as illustrated in Figure 4 the extremities of the arcuate member II] are inwardly disposed to provide hook members II with which the hook I2 at the inner end of the spring may engage in the event the drive or release of the spring tension motivates the arbor l5. This engagement of the hook furnishes sufficient contact to turn the arbor. In this form of the invention the arcuate member I9 also has its central portion anchored, as at M, to

the arbor I5 by a screw or the like but if pre-' ferred this arcuate member may have free or slipping contact with the arbor the same as in the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a spring mounting constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A mounting for a spiral spring comprising an arbor around which the spring winds, and an arcuate member substantially at right angles to theiarbor having the central portion of its outbow side 'in contact with the periphery of the arbor with the end portions of the member disposed beyond and free of the arbor, the inner end portion of the spring being formed to extend within said member in a direction lengthwise of the member and having contact with an extremity of said member.

2. A mounting for a spiral spring comprising an arbor around which the spring winds, and

an arcuate member having the central portion of its outbow side in contact with the periphery of the arbor, the inner end portion of the spring being formed to extend within said member, the peripheral portion of the arbor with which the arcuate member contacts being corrugated.

3. A mounting for a spiral spring comprising an arbor around which the spring winds, and an arcuate member having the central portion of its outbow side in contact with the periphery of the arbor, the inner end portion of the spring being formed to extend within said member, an end portion of the arcuate member being returned to provide an inwardly facing hook, the end portion of the spring extending within the 'member being formed to provide a hook to engage the hook of the arcuate member.

4. A mounting for a spiral spring comprising an arbor around which the spring winds, and an arcuate resilient member substantially at right angles to the arbor having the central portion of its outbow side in contact with the periphery of the arbor with the end portions of the member disposed beyond and free of the arbor, the inner end portion of the spring being formed to extend within said member in a direction lengthwise of the member and having contact with an extremity of said member.

EMMETT B. THIGPEN. 

